Manufacture of shoes



Nov. 30 1926.

W. C. CARD, JR

MANUFACTURE OF SHOES III/II Nov. 30 W260 1,608,489

W. C. CARD, JR MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Original Filed July 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3? I g ug? 111067112)? 12! Man: 61 'amZJr. {9 2w @4 dilo r1163 .5 v

' Patented Nov; 30, 1926.

UNITED rST-AT E S PATENT OFFICE.

wimmemmn, .13., orfaos'ron, massaonosnrrs, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO meant GREEN, or nnwrou' arennxnns, mnssnonusnrrs.

MANUFACTURE or snons.

Original application filed 111137 23, 1925, Serial No. 45.584. Divided and this application filed November 1s,'-1a25. semi-m. 69,224. v

This invention pertains to machines for marking or maklng large perforations or cut-outs in sheet material and is herein (18.7.

scribed with particular reference to its adaptation for use in the making of footwear, the present application being a division of my cope nding application Serial No. 45,584,

filed July 23, 1925.

For making footwear the present machine.

H is of great utility in marking the upper leather (by impressing the'latter in accordance with a predetermined contour pattern) to provide a guiding line or mark to assist the stitcher in producing ornamental rows of stitches; for making ornamental-."cut out openings; and for various other purposes which will beapparent tothe practical shoemakerJ As herein disclosed the machine is specifically illustrated and described as arranged tomake ornamental cut-outs, that u is to say, openingsof relatively large area in the upper of the shoe and which are usuall defined and set off by marginal rows of stitches. I In accordance with the usual method of making shoe parts, for example, vamps, tips, quarters, etc., having cut-outs, the openings in the material, for example leather, which forms the outer member'of said part, are made substantially at the same time that such part is cut, and usually by means of the same dies or patterns which are employed in cutting the part. This outer member thus.

provided with its cut-out'opening or openings is then assembled with the "other parts .of the upper and with corresponding lining members and stitched to produce the complete upper. At some convenient .point in this general operation, the margins of the 40' cut-out openings are furnished with their bordering row or rows which pass through both outer -member and lining.

If the lining members for .these outer parts are also furnished with cut-out openings prior to assemblage with the corresponding' inner parts, it is almost impossible to register the openings of a lining member with those of its mating outer part and in consequence portions of the lining show 60 through the openings in the outer part, greatlydetracting from the appearance of the shoe. Furthermore. under this mode of procedure, it is extremely difiicult properly the bordering rows of stitches.

to formthe rows of bordering stitches so as i to unite the lining to the outer part around the entire margin of the opening. For this reason it has been proposed simultaneously to cut the openings in the outer part and lining after theseparts have been assembled, but before lasting, and then to form Here again difficult}; is experienced, particularly when highly complicated cut-out patterns are employed, since the material between adjacent openings is often very narrow, and when the upper. is subjected to any substantial strain or is even handledlwithout especial care, the lining stretches and wrinkles and the openings inthe outer part and lining no longer register, and it ispractically impossible so to stitch them together as to avoid ragged edges and'the exposure of portions of the lining through the openings. '1 l For the above reasons and since the formation of these ornamental cut-out openings, often of largezsize, greatly weakens the leather or other material forming the outer 'member of the upper, the lining is commonly left intact andwithout corresponding cut-out openings and during the subsequent operations of pullin over, bottoming, etc.; the lining is depen ed upon 'to carry the strains imposed'upon the upper. As the lining is usually of textile fabric which readily stretches in a bias direction, it often fails to prevent overstraining of the upper' and consequently shoes provided with cutouts of large extent are frequently over-size and of distortedshape.

WVhen the shoe thus made is substantially completed, it is necess'ary to remove the lining corresponding to the cut-outs in the out-. er member of the upper and this is usually performed manually by the use of a knife blade. This operation requires great skill and care, is slow and expensive atbest, and commonly results in damage to a relatively large percentage of the shoes, and even when carefully performed, such a mode of removing the textile lining frequently leaves ragproduced,'and for this reason manufacturers we. 'ged or frayed edges which detract from the of shoes of the very highest grade have generally refused to make shoes of this character in spite of the demand, owing first to the 1 such shoes by. present methods,

high percentage of damage in producing and secondly to the reluctance of such manufacturers to produce shoes which are in any particular a open to criticism. I

that the cut-outs do not weaken the upper during the lasting or subsequent processes and at the same time producing cut-outs of better and more sharply defined character "than is usual by the ordinary method of complete upper,

the cut-out being performed at such desired production.

In' using my improved machine I first stamp, or preferably impress but without actual incision, upon the surface of the leather or other material intended to form the outer surface of the shoe, the outline of the cut-out or cut-outs desired to be formed therein and preferably at the same time I provide a small positioning perforation within the marked area at a point having a definite relation to the contour of the de-- sired cut-out. These marked parts of the upper. are then assembled with their corresponding lining members and the other parts and stitched in usual manner to form the the marginal stitching of stage in the process as is usual, using the markings or impressions upon the surface ofthe outer member as a guide in making the row or rows of bordering stitches,

The shoe is now assembled with the inner sole and lasted in usual manner and s nce the cut-outs have not as yet been formed in the upper the shoe may be lasted with no more difiiculty than shoes of ordinary type and without danger ofundue stretching or tearing. After the shoe has been substantially completed, those portions of the upper which lie within the marginal stitches defining the proposed cut-out are removed by a punching operation which cuts the outer member and the lining in one operation, leaving a clean sharply defined open-- ing. a

The improved mechanism herein disclosed comprises as its essentials a work supporting horn or bed plate capable of entering if necessary into the extreme toe. tip of the shoe, a presser foot or positioner having substantially the exact shape of the desired cutoutor cut-outs and which may be brought down with resilient pressure upon the outer surface of the upper so as to lie just, within the borderingrow of stitches, said. presser foot preferably having a positioning nib or tit adapted to enter the positioning perforaturret in place of the through both tion above described as initially formed with in the area of the proposed cut-out.- The provision of this perforation and the cor-- responding tit on the presser foot is desir able as it enables the operator more quickly and accurately to locate the work relatively to the presser foot, but this perforation and v the corresponding tit on the presser foot may be dispensed with if desired since by the exercise of care the operator can position the pressure foot solely by reference to the marginal stitches defining the desired cutout area.

'When the presser foot has been properly positioned by swinging the shoe relatively to the supporting horn, a hollow punch or die of the same contour but very slightly larger than the presser foot and which telescopes over and registers with the latter, is brought down with sufiicient force to cut through both leather and lining. The work supporting horn preferably has a resilient ly supported cutting bed of a character such that it doesnot injure the'cutting edge. of the punch.

Preferably the punch is power. driven and controlled by a one revolution clutch so that each depression of the controlling treadle can produce but a single down stroke of the punch. 1

To facilitate the formation of cut-outs of different shapes in rapid succession, the ref ciprocating ramwhich supports and actuates the punch is preferably furnished with a rotary turret capable of supporting-a plurality o'f punches and their corresponding presser feet. This turret may be turned to ring any selected punch with its presser foot into operative relation to the work support and is then held in this adjusted p'osi tion by suitable retaining means.

The machine is provided with suitable marking punches corresponding in shape and 4 size to the punching dies and these marking punches are adapted to be mounted in the punching dies so that the same mechanism in general may be en ployed if desired both for marking the material and for removing the marked portions from the finished shoe.

In the accompanying drawings certain steps of the improved process are illustrated by way of example, together with a preferred mechanism useful in performing the process.

In the drawings,-- Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section of a preferred mechanism useful in performing the process herein described; Fig. 2 is an end elevation from the lefthand side of the device as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3.is an end elevation from the righthand side ofthe device as shown in Fig.1 1,;

omitting the fly Wheel;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation from the a the line 7-7 of F meralv viewed in Fig. with clutch mechanism 7 of any usual type to connect the driving or fly left-hand side of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1 to larger scale, showing certain details of the punching die and presser foot;

, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the outer end of the work supporting horn;

F ig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section on Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a preferred form of marking punch;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the-punch shown in Fig. 8; 1

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section to larger scale substantially on the line 10-1O of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, illustrating a modified form together with a form of support useful in operation;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are views illustrating various steps in the improvedprocess; and

Figs. 15 and 16 are fragmentary views illustrating cut-outs of more complex type.

Referring to the drawings, thenumeral 1 (Fig. 1) indicates a base or supporting member provided with and 3, 3 which support the bearings 4 and 5 in which a horizontal drive shaft 6 is journaled.

At the right-hand side ofthe machine as 1, this shaft is furnished bed plate or work adapted at will wheel 8 with the shaft 6. This drive wheel 8 normally turns freely with respect to the shaft 6 and is driven continuously from'any suitable source of power.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the nu- 9 designates a stop dog which in wellknown manner normally-engages a part of the clutch 7 to hold the clutch parts in difengagementso that the shaft 6 remains at rest- In accordance with the present invention, this dog 9 preferably forms one arm of a bell crank lever pivoted at 10 and having the substantially horizontal arm 11. A latch lever .12 is upon a suitable part of the frame and this lever is furnished tially of L shape. A pin 15 normally engages the horizontal limb of this slot. pin 15v is carried by thelower end of a link 16 pivotally connected at 17 to the end'of the arm 11. A spring 18 tends normally to hold the dog 9 in operative position as shown in Fig. 3, the clutch parts being disengaged. A sprin retain the link 16 in the position shown in.

Fig- 3 with the pin 15 disposed in the hori-w zontal part of the slot 14.

A link 20 connects the free end of the lever 12 to a'treadle2lfor other controlling turns the dog 9 toits normal position.

of marking punch,

performing the marking pairs of uprights 2, 2;

fiber or wood, which will not pivoted at the point 13,

with a slot 14, substan- The 19 normally tends tolever 12 continues to move downwardly, the

pin 15 escapes into the vertical limb of the slot 14.- and the spring 18 immediately re This return of the dog 9 occurs before the shaft 6 has made more than one revolutionso that even though the treadle be retained in depressed position'the shaft 6 is. stopped at the end of the first revolution andcannot again be clutched to treadle has beenallowed to rise.

'A bracket 22 (F ig. 1) depends upon the upper part of the machine frame and carries a work supporting horn 23 which projects to the left as'viewed in Fig. 1 between the legs;

2 and 2. Preferably, as'shown in Fig. 6, this horn terminates in a'more. or less pointed or rounded end adapted to enter the toe portion of a shoe and its outer part is furnished with a recess 25 in which a. plate 26 is positioned. This plate is resiliently supported by means of springs 27 or equivalent devices and carries the bed plate 28. Proferably the. bed plate is formed of some ncnmetallic material, for example, indurated' the edge of the punchingdie when the latter is brought down against it. Preferably the upper surface of this bed is upwardly can the fly wheel until the seriously dull vex, in order that it may betterconfornf'to the inner surface of the shoe and is furnished at a suitable point with a small recess 27 for the reception of the positioning tit ofthe presser foot hereinafter described.

The left-hand side of the machine frame as viewed in Fig.

guideways 29 The inner side of this rain is furnished with a housing 30 which receives.- an eceent-ric'31 mounted upon the endof-the shaft 6. Suitable .wear plates 32 and are arranged at the top and bottom of this housing, such wear plates being replaceable when seriously worn. The arrangement described is such that each rotation of the shaft 6 produces a downward and upward recip- 1 carries a vertically recip rocating ram 29 sliding 1n spaced vertlcal recesses 37 and a retaining pin "38, carried by a resilient su port 39, is adapted to -en-,

gage any selecte one of these pins to hold the turret in adjusted position.

. guide forthe supporti'ngstem 4.5 of

The turret is provided with a plurality in theirrespective sockets by means of set screws 41.. Each sleeve 40 (Fig. projects beyond the edge of the turret disc and its projecting end is screw threaded for engagement with an internally threaded boss 42 projecting from the rear face of a hollow punch 43. This punch is furnished with a flange 44'projecting from its lowerface, such flange being sharpened similar to that of the desired cut-out.

The punch supporting sleeve forms .1

an 1- dicator or work positioning presser foot 51 associated with the punch. The inner end of the stem 45 is furnished with an axial projection 46 adapted to enter and to position a coiled spring 47 which. is seated in the inner end of the sleeve 40 and which normally tendsvto project the stem 45 from the outer end of the sleeve. A stop member 48, preferably extended to form a handle, is secured to'the inner part of the stem 45 and projects out through an elongate slot 49 in the side Wall of the sleeve 40 ant through a corresponding slot 50 in the turret 35.- the lower end of the slot, lim ts downward movement of the stem 45 and at the same time forms a convenient means for manually lifting the stem and the presser foot 51 to permit the work to be placed on the work support.

The pressel? cndof the stem 45.

foot 51 is'secured to the outer This press'er foot preferably consists of a flat plate having a marginal edge 52 geometfically similar to the contour of the corresponding punch 43 but slightly smaller so 44 of the punch may telescope over the presser foot. Preferably the edge of the presser foot is bevelled as at '53 in order to facilitate accurate positioning of the work with respect to such edge. The outerface of the presser foot '51 is furnished with a projecting positioning tit 54 and when the b punch and .presser foot are in operative posi' tion, this tit is vertically aligned with and adapted to enter the pocket 27 in the bed pate 28. I

Referring to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the numeral 55 indicates a block or backing member forming part of a. marking punch. such block being provided with a stem 56 of a diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the punch supporting sleeve 40 above described and which may be substituted for such sleeve when desired.

The block 55 supports a face plate 57, having a ridge-like projection or stamp 58 upon its to provide a cutting edge and being of a contour geometrically- This handle 48, by engagement withthat the cutting edge Fig. 8 and after a diamond-shaped contour.

Within the area defined by aridge 58, a perforating punch 59 is arranged. This punch projects beyond the plane outer edge of the ridge 58 to a distance such that when this marking punch is brought down upon the surface of the work the perfor'ating punch 59 will form a small perforation through orsubstantially through the work. The punch 59 is'preferably located at the axis of symmetry of the figure defined'by the ridge 58, although its exact position is not essential.

One convenient mode of forming the ridge 58 is to make the face plate 57 of sheet metal and to stamp up the ridge 58 from the back side of the plate, fill ng in the space 59 inside of said ridge if necessary, with solder or other suitable material as indicated at 60 in Fi 10.

In Fig. 11 a modil ie indicated comprising -and a face plate 57 block 55, the stem 56,

raised figures or stamps 58% 58 and 58, respectively which may contours. In this instance, the perforating punch 59 is arranged at the center of the raised stamping ridge 58, although it is contemplated that it may be located within either one or the other of such raised figures. In Fig. 11 a stamping bed 62 is also illustrated. ,This bed is provided with a fiat upper surface for use when-marking the work. This bed plate may be substituted for the bed plate 28 by removing the latter from its support 26 and sliding the bed plate 62 into position thereon. This be;l plate 62 is furnished with a recess 63 for the reception of the perforating punch 59.

As a specific example of the mode of using my machine, I first cut by ordinary methods the outer member of the shoe part which is to be prov ded with the cut-out. For example, as shown in Fig. 12, this part may be a vamp 64-having the usual matching notches 65 in its edge. I then place in any one of the sockets in the turret of the machine a marking punch of suitable form, such for example, as the punch 55 shown in laying the vamp 64 upon the punching bed plate 62, positioning it properly by means of the notches 65 and co-operating marks or pins on the upper surface of the bed plate I depress the treadle 21, thus causing the ram and turret to descend, bringing the stamping ridge 58 forcibly down upon the vamp at the desired point. If desired, the edge of the stamping projection 58 may be furnished with suitof the d marking punch i;

be of like or different- In this instance the 'face plate is provided with a pluralityof V ance indicated in Fig.

handle 48.

able pigment or coloring material so as to leave a distinct mark upon the vamp. Preferably I omit this coloring material and merely impress the contour of the marking punch upon the surface of the material but preferably without cutting or breaking the surface of the latter. Since the perforating punch 59 projects beyond the plane of the edge I of the stamping punch it passes through the material forming a small perforation therein. The. vamp now has the general appear- 12, having on its outer surface the outline 66 of the desired cut-out with the centrally disposed perforation 67. This vamp is now assembled with a correspondin lining 64 .(Fig. 13) and with the other parts of the upper by the usual methods. Either before or after assemblage with the other parts of the upper, the vamp 64 with its lining 64 is provided with a row of stitches 68 closely bordering the impressed outline of the cut-out. This line of stitches passes through both the outer members of the lining of the part being operated on. More than one of such r0ws of stitches may be provided if desired.

The upper is now assembled with thebottom parts of the shoe and the shoe is completed in the usual manner and by the usual processes. lVhen the shoe is substantially complete and ready for shipment, the operator places a cut-out punch 43 with its corresponding presser foot in the turret in the machine, such punch and presser foot having the contour of the desired cut-out as previously impressed upon the surface of the upper; The shoe is then slipped over the work supporting horn 23, the presser foot 51 first being raised by means of the The presser foot is now allowed to drop, the work being so moved that the projecting tit 54 enters the perforation .67 in the upper and the shoe is swung about this tit as an axis until the edge 52 of the presser foot registers exactly with the im-' pressed design upon the shoe upper.

When the shoe has thus been positioned, the treadle is depressed, moving the ram 29 downwardly and thus causing. the punch 43 to telescope over the edge of the presser foot. Since the engagement of the handle 48 with the slot 49 prevents any relative angular movement of the punch and the presser foot, and since the punch and presser foot are initially oriented so that their corresponding edges are exactly parallel,

the punch is free to edge 52-.of'the presser foot into enga ement with the material and in such urther downward movement passes through both the outer member of the lining and-the upper,'thus at one operation cutting out the material within the borderin row of stitches are lea ng a sha p y efined cutout opening. By

ily be made herein disclosed, I know of no other sat-ismove down over the the use of the positioning perforation 67 and the corresponding po sitioning tit 54 on the presser foot, great accuracy may be secured with comparatively little care on the art of the operator so that relatively unskilled help may be employed in the manufacture of shoes of this class.

Since the turret permits punches of various shapes to be mounted at the same time upon the ram, the operator may quickly substitute one punch for another as the character of the work may demand and as above pointed out, if desired, the same machine may be used, both for marking the uppers and for cutting them out after the completion of the shoe. Preferably, however, separate machines will be employed for convenience, since the uppers are usually cut and otherwise prepared at a point remote from that at which the shoes are completed, ready for shipment.

In Fig. 15 a shoe is illustrated having a series of cut-out openings 70 arranged closely adjoined to one another while Fig. 16 shows a pump also having. closely spaced openings 71. While shoes having such complex and lace-like cut-out portions can readbythe method and apparatus factory way in which such elaborate patterns can be produced. a

While a preferred embodiment of the means for performing the above described operation has herein been shown by way of example, it is understood .that various changes and modifications may be made therein as circumstances may warrant and as the character of the work may demand but without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising a work support, a punch reciprocable toward and from the work support, and a device normally spaced a substantial distance in advance of the cutting edge of the punch andmovable relatively to the punch toward and from the work and engageable with the work when the punch is retracted to indicate the area of the work which will be removed by the punch when the latter makes its work of the class described comu said able toward and surface of the horn,

\ metrically its working stroke, and means for manually liftin the indicator device from the work.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a work support, a retractable positioning foot normally engaging the work resting upon the work support, said foot having an edge constituting a guide for placing the work upon the support, a punch iaving a cutting edge normally retracted and spaced from the 'foot, said cutting edge being disposed closely parallel to the vertical plane of said edge of the positioning foot, and means for moving the punch relatively to said positioning foot to cut the material alongf a line parallel to the guiding edge of oot.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a work support, a manually retractable positioning foot normally yieldingly engaging the work resting upon the work support, said foot having an edge contour like that of the opening to be made in the work and constituting a guide for placing the work upon the work support, apunch having a cutting edge geometrically similar to that of the foot. the punch and foot normally being spaced from each other, means maintaining a similar orientation of the punch and foot, and means for moving thepunch relatively to the positioning foot and toward "the work support to cut through the work resting thereon.

'5. A machine of the class described comprising a work supporting horn, a ram movfrom the work engaging a punch carried by the ram, said punch normally being spaced from the work suppgrting arm and having a contour like that of the opening to be made in the work, and a positioning device normally spaced from the punch and engageable with t 1e work prior to operative movement of the punch and determining the punch'relatively to the work during operative movement of the latter, said posit-ioning device having a contour similar to that of the punch.

' 6. A machine of the class described comprising atwork support, apositioning device normally engaging the work resting upon the support, said positioning device having a contour of the shape of the opening'to be made in the work, a punch of a contour ge'osimilar to that of the positioning device, said punch normally retracted from the work support, said unch being normally movable relatively to tlie tpositionmg device toward and fromthe work support, means to maintain similar orientation of the punch and positionin device, and'means for actuating the panel: to remove from the work a piece corresponding in size and shape to the contour of the punch.

' 7. A machine of the class described comrising a work supporting horn, a ra movthe orientation of able toward and from'the horn, a yieldable I work positioning presser foot carried by the ram and normally engaging work resting upon the horn, manually operable means for lifting the presser foot relatively to the ram,

and a hollow punch whose cutting edge has a contour geometrically similar to that of the presser foot, said punch being mounted upon the ram to move therewith toward the horn and when so moving telescoping over the presser foot, the punch normally being spaced a substantial distance from the press= er foot.

8. A machine of the class described comprisinga work su porting horn, a-ram movable toward and rom the horn, a yieldable' presser foot carried by the ram and normally engaging work resting upon the horn,manually operable means for lifting the presser foot relatively to the ram, said presser foot having an elongate stem, atubular punch carrier sliding longitudinally of said stem, and a hollow punch mounted upon the end of said carrier, said punch normally being spaced from the presser foot, the cutting edge of said punch having a contour geometrically similar to that of the presser foot and of slightly larger dimensions to permit it to pass down over the presser foot when the punch carrier is moved relatively to the presser foot stem.

9. A machine of the class described comprisinga Work support, a vertically movable ram, means for reciprocating the ram, a punch supporting sleeve carried by the ram, an annular punch secured to the lower end of the sleeve, a longitudinally slidable stein within the sleeve, a presser foot carried bythe stem, said presser foot being normally ositioned a substantial distance in advance of the cutting edge of the punch and having a thin edge portion of a contour geometrically similar to that of the punch, and means preventing relative rotation of the stem and sleeve.

10. A machine of the class described comprising a work support, a vertically movable ram, means for reciprocating the ram, a punch supporting sleeve carried by the ram, an annular punch secured to the lower end of the sleeve, a longitudinally slidable stem within the sleeve, a presser foot' secured to the lower end of the stem, the presser foot normally being spaced a substantial distance in advance'of the cutting edge of the punch, the contour of'the presser foot being goo:- metrically similar to that of the punch, the presser foot being of slightly less dimensions than the punch to permit the latter to telescope over it, and means to prevent relative turning of the punch and presser foot.

11. A machine of the class described comprising a work supporting horn, a vertical- 1y movable ram,'a punch supporting sleeve carried by the mm, a hollow punch mounted presser foot being geometrically similar to I to .Jecting downwardly below the that of the punch.

12. A machine of the class described comprising a work supporting horn, a vertical-- ly movable ram, a punch supporting sleeve carried by the ram. a hollow punch mounted upon the lower end of the sleeve, a presser foot stem telescoping in the sleeve and normally projecting downwardly below the cutting edge of the punch, a spring urging said stem toward the work support, a liftinghandle secured to the stem and projecting out through a vertical slot in the wall of the sleeve, and a presser foot secured to the lower-end of the stem, the punch being of such size as to permit it to telescope over the presser foot. 13. Amachine of the class described comprising a work support, a vertically movable ram, means for reciprocating the ram, a punch supporting sleeve carried by the ram, an annular'punch secured to the lower end of the sleeve, a longitudinally slidable stem within the sleeve, said stem normally projecting downwardly below the cutting edge of the punch. a presser foot secured to the lower end of the stem, the contour of the presser foot being geometrically similar to that of the punch, a positioning tit project-- ing from the under surface of the presser foot, and means to prevent'rela'tive orientation of the presser'foot and punch.

14. A machine of the class described comprising a work support, a vertically movable ram, means for reciprocating the ram, a

punch supporting sleeve carried by the ram,

an annular punch secured to the lower end of the sleeve. a longitudinally 'slidable stem within the sleeve, said stem normally propunch, a presser foot secured to the lower end of the stem, the edge contour of the presser foot being geometrically similar to the contour of the cutting edge of the punch, a positioning tit projecting downwardly substantially at the axis of symmetry of the presser foot, and means to prevent relative orientation of the punch and presser foot.

15. A machine of the class described comprising a work support, a vertically reciprocating ram, means for actuating the ram, a turret pivotally supported by the ram, a plurality of punches, each provided with an associated positioning device normally disposed in advance of and spaced from its respective punch, mounted on the turret, and

means for retaining "the turret in adjusted "position with a selected operative relation to the work support.

16. A machine of the class described comprising a work support,a vertically reciprocating ram, means for actuating'the rain, a.

punch disposed in;

turret mounted upon'the ram and pivoted to tum upon a horizontal axis, spaced izzzliullv extending punches carried by the turret, the

cuttin edges of the several punches being of'difierent contour, a presser toot associated with each punch, said presser foot normally being disposed in advance of and spaced from its respective punch, the contour of each presser foot being geometrically similar tothat of its respective punch, and'means for retaining the turret in desired position of angular adjustment with a selected punch and its associated presser foot in operative position.

17. A machine of the class described comprising a reciprocating punch, a device associated with the with the work whenthe punch is retracted to indicate the exact area of the work which will be engaged by the punch in making its working stroke. and a Work support having a yieldable bed opposed .to the punch.

18. A machine of the class describedcomprising a reciprocating punch, a device associated with the punch andengageable with the work when the punch is retracted to indicate the exact are of the work whichwill be engaged by the dumb in making its working stroke, a WOI'I supporting horn, and a spring supported bed carried thereby to receive the blow of the punch.

19. A machine of the class described comprising a reciprocating punch, a device associated with the punch and engageable with the work when the punch isretracted to indicate the area of the work which will be engaged by the punch in making its working stroke, and a work supporting horn of a sizepermitting it to enter into the toe portion of a shoe. 4

20. A machine of the class described comprising a reciprocating punch, a device associated with the punch and engageable with the work when the punch is retracted to indicate the exact area of the work which will be engaged by the punch in making itsworking stroke, a work supporting horn, and a bed having a convex upper surface mounted upon the horn.

21. A machine'of the class described com prising a reciprocating punch, a device associated with the punch and engageable with the work when the punch-is retracted to indicate the exact area of the work which will be engaged by the punch in making" its working stroke, a work supporting horn of a size permitting it to enter into the toe portion of a shoe, and a bed of relativel soft material mounted upon the horn in position to opp e the cutting edge of the punch.

punch and engageable 22. machine of the class described comprising a reciprocating punch, a device ing stroke, a work support, and power means for actuating the punch including a one revolution clutch.

23. A. machine of the class described comprising a reciprocating punch, a device associated with the punch and engageable with the work when the punch 1s retracted lit) - will be engaged by to indicate the exact area of the work which the punchin making its working stroke, a-work support, punch actuating means including a clutch havinga normally operative stop dog, a controller movable irra predetermined direction to withdraw the dog and thereby to permit the punch actuating means to move the punch toward the, work, and means automatically releasing the dog to allow it to resume normal position as the controller nears one limit of its path of movement.

24. A machine of the class described comprising a reciprocating punch, a device associated withthe punch and engage-able with the work when the punch to indicate the exact area of the work which will be engaged-by the punch in making its working stroke, a work support, punch actuating means including a clutch provlded 1s retracted the treadle nears the limit of its operative movement thereby releasing the dog and allow1ngj1t to return to normal pos1t1on.

25. A machine of the class described comprising a reciprocating punch, a associated with the punch and engageable with the Work when the punch is retracted to indicate the exact area of the work which will be engaged by the punch in making its working stroke, a work support, punch actuating means including a clutch provided device I with a normally operative stop dog, a- 4 treadle, a lever having a substantially L shaped slot therein, a link connecting the treadle with the end of the lever, and a link connected to the stop dog, said link having a pin normally disposed in the horizontal limb of the slot in said lever whereby to transmit movement from the treadle to the dog, said pin slipping into the upright limb of the slot as the leverswings thereby releasing the dog, and a spring tending to hold the dog in normal position.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this fourteenth day'of November, 1925.

WILLIAM C. CARD, JR. 

